RADIO HAURAKI

Up until a few years ago, all of the radio stations in New Zealand were state-owned, and run by the N.Z.B.C. Now there are six, fully legal private stations in the country, one in each of the cities Auckland, Hamilton, Whakatane, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. The first of these stations to open, Radio Hauraki in Auckland, is the station that caused the revolution, A photograph of the station sent to Hauraki fan-club members in 1967 contains the words Radio Hauraki transmitting ship M.V. 'Tiri' moored in international waters in the'Hauraki`.Gulf, latitude: 36 degrees ' 18 minutes/longitude: 175 degrees 20 minutes." Broadcasting popular music programmes on a frequency of 1480 kHz, recorded in the Radio Hauraki studios at 93-95 Anzac Ave., Auckland,' New Zealand. The M.V.Tiri' is 100 ft. long with a 25 ft. beam. She has a displacement of 150 tone, carries 800 gallons of fuel and 1200 gallons water supply. She is powered by a 250 h.p. G.M diesel engine. The transmitting mast is 120 ft high". Yes, Radio Hauraki was New-Zealand's first and only offshore "pirate" station! The Hauraki story begins in 1966. Although the N.Z.B.C. was authorized to grant broadcasting licences to private stations, they had never been known to do so. Four men decided to force their hand; when their application for a licence was turned down, they went ahead with their well-laid plans to float their station in the Colville Channel. These men were David Gates, business manager, Derek Lowe, managing director of an advertising firm, "Doo" O'Callahan, technician, and Chris Parkinson, a popular announcer on N.Z.B.C stations. On board the 'Tiri''a converted coaster, was a Westinghouse Model TBI-13 transmitter (Serial No.2201), which had previously been used in the submarine service of the U.S. Navy Department. It was originally designed to operate on-a power of 500 watts; Hauraki's technicians rebuilt it completely, so that their eventual output was approximately 1750 watts. The frequency of 1480 kHz, (203 metres) was carefully chosen so that no interference would be caused to the N.Z.B.C. or to essential shipping services.

In October 1966 'Tiri', was ready to set sail. A permanent anchorage had been put down in 24 fathoms, well outside the three mile limit of territorial waters. Hundreds of supporters lined, the docks as the ship's engines were started; they cheered as 'Tiri' headed for sea. But the Authorities were determined to have the last word. They began to close the drawbridge across the entrance to the Western Viaduct, so that the 'Tiri' couldn't leave! Instantly, two members of the Hauraki ,organisation ran and squatted in the steel jaws of the pivot mechanism of the bridge; it could not be closed now without taking their lives.They were joined by other personel and supporters. 'Tiri' moved on; but the ship's mainmast got caught in the partially lowered drawbridge. One of Hauraki's lieutenants, Colin Broadley, appeared on the drawbridge. He somehow managed to free the mast, which was jammed by a shackle. A rope was run ashore, and members of the crowd helped to haul the ship towards the centre of the bridge; 'Tiri' swung free and slowly moved out to sea. But the victory was short-lived. A police launch, the Deodar, was at the ready. 'Tiri'' was boarded; the police stopped her engines. The crew members were arrested, and taken off the 'Tiri' some were singing the Beatles song "We all live in a Yellow Submarine"…… The next day, eleven members of the Radio Hauraki organisation appeared in court charged with obstructing a marine Department Inspector; but later the charges were dropped. The 'Tiril’ remained under guard at Calliote Wharf at the Devonoort Naval base for a few days, and was then returned to the owners. Fearing yet more problems with the Authorities the 'Tiri's next attempt to put to sea was totally without publicity or prior announcement; this time, the venture met with success: Once at her mooring, the 'Tiri' had to be equipped with an aerial mast.

This was 150' ft. high, and was erected by the crew, technicians, and announcers of Radio Hauraki. After only a few weeks of broadcasting this aerial was lost in a storm; an event that was repeated more than once. The most successful aerial design used aboard the 'Tiri' was a square lattice welded mast of 80 ft. with a very complex guyed duralium section up to 140 ft., but many other designs were tried.

The programmes began from the station on November 21st; the very first record to be heard was chosen to be appropriate: "Born Free". Hauraki Instantly became the most popular station in New Zealand. A "1480 Fan club"was formed, and many activities arranged, such as the "Awakathons" at which top Hauraki DJ's played records and requests in public places to help raise funds for community projects. World records for continuous DJing were broken at these events.

Every six weeks, the 'Tiri' put into port for supplies. Accusations were made that Hauraki did upon occasion broadcast while in harbour; this was never proved, but there was one time when the station did transmit inside the three mile limit. This was January 28th 1968 - the day 'Tiri' ran aground' Earlier in the day, 'Tiri' had left her moorings to help search for a man reported missing in a small boat. As darkness fell, the ship was unable to return to her anchorage. The newly-reconditioned engine proved to be not strong enough for the heavy seas; 'Tiri’ was hurled against the rocks on Great Barrier Island. Although the crew feared that the ship might break up with the continual battering she was receiving there was no panic on board. Live programming, interspersed with ‘May Day’ messages continued until the order was given to abandon ship. The 'Tiri was wrecked she rests now in a muddy grave near Whangarei, stripped and derelict."

Radio Hauraki’s first radio ship M.V. Tiri (Photo Radio Hauraki NZ Ltd)

 Hauraki was off the air for over four weeks. The station returned aboard a new ship, sixty year-old coaster, previously named 'Kapuni', renamed 'Tiri II' She had no easier passage as a radio-ship than the original 'Tiri'; she ran aground several times, the most serious being June 1968, in the middle of New Zealand's winter, when she was grounded at Uretiti Beach near Waipu. Fortunately she suffered little damage and was soon back at her moorings.

And so the successful sound of Radio Hauraki, described as "A completely new concept in commercial broadcasting" continued – while on shore, political battles raged... Britain had signed a Marine Offences Act to silence the sound of offshore radio - would New Zealand do the same? It seemed likely, but such a move would have been, to say the least, extremely unpopular with 'Hauraki's thousands of listeners. The public clearly wanted private radio; the Government of New Zealand then did the obvious thing. They passed a bill to allow the listening of private stations outside the control of the N.Z.B.C.! As was fitting for a pioneer and champion of free radio in New Zealand, Hauraki was the very first station to be allocated a licence. Offshore broadcasts ceased, amidst great jubilation, on June 25th 1970. Soon 'Tiri II' again became just an ordinary ship; later she was found to be unseaworthy and was broken up..

Radio Hauraki’s second radio ship M.V. Tiri II (Photo Radio Hauraki NZ Ltd.)

 No more was heard on the airwaves of 1480 kHz until September that year. As the promise of summer returned to the people of New Zealand, Auckland's first private station began broadcasting; legal, licenced and on a full power of 5 kW. Allotted the call-sign 1XA, this was none other than our old friend Radio Hauraki! In every way the old friend of Auckland's population; yet with many changes. The biggest of these of course was the fact that Hauraki was now so much more in touch with the listeners, Since the early days Hauraki has been an audience-participation station; yet how much more alive the station could become now that the communication was truly two-way! Again New Zealand's youngest and most popular radio service was able to improve the broadcasting standards of the country.

Of particular interest to our technically-minded readers is the aerial system now in use at Radio Hauraki's new home, which overlooks the Western Viaduct on the Auckland waterfront. To prevent interference with Australian stations that broadcast on the same frequency, Hauraki uses a system of directional aerials, comprising two vertical guyed towers, each 160 feet high, facing one another at a distance of 203 feet. The two 5 kW transmitters, each of which acts as a standby for the other, areboth of a S.T.C. Type 4-SU-55E. The station's engineers certainly do not have the headaches with these high-quality models as with the Tiri's much-modified submarinetype transmitter:

Auckland now has four commercial and two non-commercial radio systems, which provide the listeners with a wide variety of entertainment, including sports commentaries, gardening sessions, serials and comedy shows. It is, therefore, the policy of Radio Hauraki to concentrate its programming on MUSIC. With the aim of bringing the people of Auckland the very best of musical entertainment, a complex pattern is woven through the programmes. Each week, the Programmes Department audition the whole range of newly available material on both the local and international scene. It is the aim of the Programme Director to anticipate musical tastes, and provide on Radio Hauraki not only smash hit New Zealand material, but top quality recorded works from overseas, and most important, to encourage local talent by playing the best music available from entertainers in their own area. This does play a "large part in Hauraki's programming, with at least two locally produced records played in each programme-session. The flexible format also provides for one "Golden Oldie" to be played for every two records from Hauraki's play-list of 80 "top hits".

The Programme Director, his assistant and the two Programme Officers who complete his team, are aware, as any good radio station must be, of the needs of the listeners. Therefore the sessions of each broadcasting day are arranged to provide the maximum entertainment value for the section of population likely to be listening at any given time. Hauraki's 7-10 p.m. show has proved particularly popular with homework-bound teenagers, while many night-shift workers and latenighters appreciate most the 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. show. Radio Hauraki is a 24-hours-per-day station, and is as popular for the 2-6 a.m. session as for the 6-9 a.m. Breakfast Show or Drivetime, 4-7 p.m. Each of these sessions is hosted by a different 'Good Guy' and while the general pattern is maintained, the shifts charge around at weekends. The Programmes Department control not only their special responsibility, the music, but also the advertizing and news to maintain the high quality of the overall sound of the station.

Radio Hauraki is a young, happy, friendly station, not only to the listeners but within the organisation, too. This fact shows well in the amazingly low turnover of 'Good Guys' on the station. Since Hauraki first began seven years ago, only forty-four ‘Good Guys' have worked on the station! (See list below). Some of these came to Hauraki as established names from Australian radio stations, but most have been home-grown talents who may never have had the chance for their names to become the household words that they are if it had not been for the Free Radio sound of Radio Hauraki. All in all, everyone in the organisation, up to and including the Managing-Director David Gapes, works together to keep Hauraki in the well-earned position of Auckland's best and most popular radio station!

You can write to the station at: Radio Hauraki (N.Z.) Limited, 4th Floor, Caltex House, Fanshawe Street, Auckland, or if you happen to be in the area, why not give them a ring at 361-775? The P.O. Box number of Hauraki is particularly easy to remember, as it is 1480 - yes, a familiar number, as since the station first began broadcasts their operating frequency has been 1480 kHz. Cables to the station should be addressed to "Haurad", New Zealand.

In conclusion, "Monitor"would like to thank the staff of Radio Hauraki, and in particular Promotions Manager Dale S. Reddish, for their assistance in supplying the information necessary for this article. On behalf of all Free Radio supporters in our part of the World, we will raise our voices with those of the New Zealand people as they cry "LONG LIVE RADIO HAURAKI!"

Here is a check-list of Radio Hauraki's DJ's:

Chris Parkinson, Mike Parkinson, Rick Grant, Paul Lineham, Ward Austin, Mike Jack, Barry Knight, Peter Davis, Wayne Douglas, Trevor Graham, George Balani, Ross Goodwin, Peter Telling, Lynn McNamara, John Charlton, Bob Leahy, John Dicks, Colin Broadley, Dean Banks, Carl Olsen, Bonnar Dan, Graham Parsonage, Paddy O'Donnell, Jeff Bach, Phil Shone, Kevin Ogles, Jim Jameson, Ted Seymour, Dave Dexter, Hugh Porter,

Tom Bradley, Lee Manner, Ian Johnston, Fred Botica, Poata Eurera, Mike Gammon, Trudie Rana, Keith Ashton, Brian Strong, Barry Jordan, Ian Magan, Jim Smith, Ian Ferguson & Mike Baker.

(First printed in MONITOR issue number 6)